We are hiring: Open source investigator (Arabic)

Lighthouse Reports is a nonprofit newsroom that undertakes international public interest investigations in partnership with some of the world’s leading media. We lead transnational investigations that blend freedom of information laws and money trails with emerging techniques like open source and data science.

Syrian Investigative Reporting for Accountability Journalism (SIRAJ) is a nonprofit unit dedicated to reporting on Syria and training Syrian journalists in investigative journalism techniques. Our mission is to promote transparency, accountability and justice for Syrians by developing high-quality in-depth investigations in partnership with local, regional and international partners.

About the role

Since 2020, SIRAJ has worked closely with Lighthouse Reports on open source investigations about profiteering and exploitation in Syria, as well as violence against Syrian refugees at European borders.

We are partnering to hire an Arabic-speaking open source investigator who will work on investigations with both of our teams and help train SIRAJ staff and contributors in the latest digital investigations tools.

With support from Lighthouse Reports and SIRAJ, the open source investigator will champion and advance the use of open source intelligence by Syrian journalists and help increase the impact, transparency and accessibility of visual investigations about Syria.

Responsibilities: 

• Work with SIRAJ’s editors and contributing journalists to identify opportunities to use open source intelligence (OSINT) and social media intelligence (SOCMINT) in investigations. Assist in research, story development and executing open source techniques during reporting. (50%)
• Work with Lighthouse Report’s open source team on global cross-border investigations into migration, conflict, corruption and climate. (40%)
• Help develop a pipeline of Syrian digital investigators through training contributors to SIRAJ and regularly briefing SIRAJ leadership on the possibilities and latest developments in digital investigations. (10%)

Additional responsibilities:

• Ensure that data collection, categorisation, preservation and processing are carried out in accordance with best practise.
• Contribute to investigation security protocols and risk assessments, ensuring sensitive information is handled securely and confidentially.
• Participate in regular meetings of SIRAJ’s editorial team and Lighthouse Report’s open source team.
• Assist in ad hoc tasks, such as fact checking and communicating with media partners

• Spoken fluency in Arabic and English
• Passion for developing Syrian investigative journalism
• Interest in our main coverage areas including human rights, corruption, migration and the environment
• Experience of planning and conducting online open source investigations
• Demonstrated knowledge of visual verification techniques and geolocation and chrono-location methods
• Fluency with various social media platforms
• Collaborative approach
• Self-starter with experience of remote work
• Experience of working in multicultural teams with people from diverse backgrounds and/or with journalists operating in conflict zones and repressive environments
• Organisational skills, with experience of working on multiple projects and to tight deadlines
• Ability to clearly communicate methods and conclusions

Location: Remote, Europe/Middle East time zone preferred.

https://apply.workable.com/lighthouse-reports-2/j/BB0BDCB649/